Illuminating flare



Nov. 14, 1950 Filed April 8, 1947 c. D. SCHERMULY ETAL ILLUMINATING FLARE FIG.I.

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS CONRAD DAVGD SCHERMULY ALFRQPi JAMES SCHERMULY By their miorneys ARLES SCHERMULY Q 1950 c. D. SCHERMULY ETAL 2,530,034

ILLUMINATING FLARE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1947 u) INVEN '0 CONRAD DAVID SCHERMULY ALFRED JAMES SCHERMULY CHARLES SCHERMULY B'y ihelrufiorneys Patented Nov. 14, 1950 ILLUMINATING FLARE.

Conrad David Schermuly, Alfred James Schermuly, and Charles Schermuly, Parkgate, N ewdigate, England Application April 8, 1947, Serial No. 740,215 In Great Britain April 15, 1946 8 Claims. (01. 10237.7)

This invention relates to illuminating flares and has for its object to provide a flare device which will provide illumination for a prolonged period, for example for a period suflicient to enable an aircraft to land while the flare device is being used to provide an emergency flare-path.

According to this invention a flare device, especially for .use for providing an emergency flare path, comprises a base, a plurality of substantially vertical tubular metal casings mounted on said base, a flare candle in each casing, means for igniting the top of the flare candle in the firstcasing, and means for igniting the top of'the flare candle in each other casing when the flare candle in the next preceding casing has almost burned through.

'The meansfor igniting the first candle may .consist of a suitable length of fuze projecting from the top of the candle. The top of each other candle may. be connected by means of a length of fuze to a point towards the lower end of the next preceding flare candle.

A convenient embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,

of a flare device according to this invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1, with one of the loose caps removed,

Figure 3 is an underside plan view of the device of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a section of the lower end of the device taken on the line IVIV, Figure 1, and

Figures 5 and 6 are an end elevationand side elevation, respectively, of a cover for the base of the device;

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4, four tubular metal casings I to 4 are mounted on a base 5 consisting of two horizontal flanges 8, 'I between which is a raised portion 8 through which the lower ends of the casings I to 4 project. The lower end of the casing I is provided with a slot 9 facing the casing 2, and the casings 2 to 4 have slots II] to I2, alternatively facing flanges 5 and I. The raised portion 8 of the base 5 is provided with three orifices I3 to I5 adjacent the casings 2 to 4. A metal channel [6, formed by bending a flat piece of metal into substantially V-shape, is secured to each of the casings 2 to 4, for example by welding, in such a position that it extends from near the raised portion 8 to a point near the top of the casings 2 to 4, providing covered passages above the orifices I3 to I5. The casings 2 to 4 are provided with orifices I! to l9 adjacent the upper end of the channels IS.

The casings I to 4 may be closed by loose caps 20 for protection of the contents from the atmosphere. Each of the casings contains a flare candle 2! from the top of which projects a short length of fuze 22 for the purpose of igniting the candle. The candles are supported on wooden plugs 23 in the lower end of the casings, each plug 23 being provided with a cutaway portion 24 for the passage of a fuze. A fuze 25, which is embedded in the candle 2! in the easing I for a suitable distance from the lower end thereof is led through the cutaway portion 24, through the slot 9, along beneath the base 5 between the lower end of the casing 2 and the flange I, through the orifice I3, up through the channel I 6, through the orifice II into the top of the casing 2 where it is tied to the fuze 22 projecting from the top of the flare candle 2I in the casing 2. A fuze 26 leads in a similar manner from the bottom of the flare candle in casing 2 to the top of the flare candle in casing 3, and a fuze 2! leads from the bottom of the latter flare candle to the top of the flare candle in casing 4. The disposition of these fuzes 252I beneath the base 5 may be clearly seen from Figure 3. A fuze 28, leading from the bottom of the flare candle in casing 4 may either be cut ofi, as shown in Figure 3, or it may be tied to the fuze projecting from the flare candle in the first casing of another flare device similar to that shown in the drawing. In this way eight flare candles may be coupled together, instead of four. It will be understood that although the device shown in the, drawings consists of four tubular casings l to 4, it is possible to use two, three or any other desired number of casings, depending on the time during which it is necessary for the flare device to provide illumination.

After the flare candles 2|, the plugs 23 and the various fuzes have been arranged in position, the space beneath the base 5 may be filled with an inert composition, such as clay; this has been omitted from the drawing for the sake of clearness.

When the flare device is to be used on grassa cover such as is shown in Figures 5 and 6. This cover comprises a sheet of metal 29 the edges of which are bent over at 30 and which is provided with spikes 3|. The edges 30 are adapted to slip over the flanges 6, i of the base 5, and the spikes 3| can be pressed into the grassland or earth so that the flare device is held firmly in the desired position.

When the flare device is to be used, the cover is removed from the casing l and the fuze 22 ignited. When the flare candle 2| in the casing I has nearly burned through, the fuze 25 is ignited and in turn ignites the flare candle 2i in the casing 2, and so on. In this way the flare candles burn one after the other providing illumination for a period four times as long as would be the case with a single flare candle.

We claim:

1. A flare device, for use in providingan emergency flare-path to illuminate air strips, comprising a base, a plurality of substantially vertical tubular metal casings mounted on said base, a flare candle in each casing, and means for igniting'the top of the flare candle in the first casing, in combination with means for igniting the top of the flare candle in each succeeding casing when the flare candle in the next preceding casing has almost burned through, whereby continuous illumination is provided.

2. A flare device for use in providing an emergency flare-path for illuminating air strips, comprising a base, a plurality of substantially vertical tubular metal casings mounted on said base, a passage adjacent the top of each casing succeeding the first, a flare candle in each casing, and means for igniting the top of the flare candle in the first casing, in combination with a fuse leading from a point near the bottom of each candle to the top of the next succeeding candle through said passage in its casing, whereby the top of the flare candle in each succeeding casing is ignited when the flare candle in the next preceding casing has almost burned through, thereby providing continuous illumination.

3. A flare device for use in providing an emergency flare-path to illuminate air strips, comprising a plurality of substantially vertical tubular metal casings, a flare candle in each casing, means for igniting the top of the flare candle in the first casing in combination with means for igniting the top of the flare candle in each succeeding casing when the flare candle in the next preceding casing is almost burned through, and a base supporting said casings, said base having two horizontal flanges and a raised portion between said flanges, the lower ends of said casings projecting through said raised portion whereby a firm support for said casings is provided.

4. A flare device for use in providing an emergency flare-path to illuminate air strips, comprising a plurality of substantially vertical tubular metal casings, a flare candle in each casing, means for igniting the top of the flare candle in the first casing in combination with means for igniting the top of the flare candle in each succeeding casing when the flare candle in the next preceding casing is almost burned through, and a base supporting said casings, said base having two horizontal flanges and a raised portion between said flanges, the lower ends of said casings projecting through said raised portion and a cover for the base, said cover having its edges bent over to engage the flanges of the base and 4 having projecting spikes for engagement in the ground, whereby a firm support for said casings is provided.

5. A weather-resistant flare device for use in providing an emergency flare-path to illuminate air strips, comprising a plurality of substantially vertical tubular metal casings, a removable cap for each casing, a flare candle in each casing, means for igniting the top of the flare candle in the first casing in combination with means for igniting the top of the flare candle in each succeeding casing when the flare candle in the next preceding casing is almost burned through, and a base supporting said casings, said base having two horizontal flanges and a raised portion between said flanges, the lower ends of said casings being adapted to project through said raised portion and a removable lower cover engaging said flanges, whereby a firm support for said casings is provided.

6. A flare device for use in providing an emergency flare-path for illuminating air strips, comprising a base, a plurality of substantially vertical tubular metal casings mounted on said base, a passage through said base adjacent each casing succeeding the first, a 'passage through and adjacent the top of each casing succeeding the first, a flare candle in each casing, and means for igniting the top of the flare candle in the first casing, in combination with a fuse in the bottom of each candle and leading from a point near said bottom below said base, through the passage in said base adjacent the next succeeding candle, to the top of the next succeeding candle and through the passage in its casing, whereby the top of the flare candle in each succeeding casing is ignited when the flare candle in the next preceding casing has almost burned through, thereby providing continuous illumination.

'7. A flare device for use in providing an emergency flare-path for illuminating air strips, comprising a base having a channel and a removable cover below said channel, a plurality of substantially vertical tubular metal casings mounted on said base and extending into said channel, a plug in the lower end of each casing, a passage through said base adjacent each casing succeeding the first, a passage through and adjacent the top of each casing succeeding the first, a flare candle in each casing, and means for igniting the top of the flare candle in the first casing, in combination with a fuse 'in the bottom of each candle and leading from a point near said bottom into the channel and then through the passage in said base adjacent the next succeeding candle, to the top of said next succeeding candle and through the passage in its casing, whereby the top of the flare candle in each succeeding casing is ignited when the flare candle in the next preceding casing has almost burned through, thereby providing continuous illumination.

8. A flare device for use in providing 'an'emergency flare-path for illuminating air strips, comprising a base having a channel and a removable cover below said channel, a plurality of substantially vertical tubular metal casings mounted on said base and extending into said channel, vertical metal channel outside each casing succeeding the first, a passage through said base adjacent each casing succeeding the first, a passage through and adjacent the top of each casing succeeding the first, a flare candle in each casing, and means for igniting the top of the flare candle in the first'casing, in combination with a fuse in the bottom of'each candle and leading 2,530,084 5 6 from a point near said bottom into the channel REFERENCES CITED the base then through the Passage m The following references are of record in the said base ad acent the next succeeding candle, file of this patent: between the casing and vertical channel for said candle and through the passage in the casing, 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS whereby the top of the flare candle in each suc- Number Name Date ceeding casing is ignited when the flare candle 311,780 Herrman Feb, 6, '1906 in the next preceding casing has almost burned 1,095,369 I-Iyra, e1; May 5, 1914 through, therebyproviding continuous illumina- 1,573,914 cim i Feb, 23, 192

tion. 10 1,761,094 Shunk June 3, 1930 CONRAD DAVID SCHERMULY. 2,103,936 Decker Dec. 28, 1937 ALFRED JAMES SCHERMULY. 2,120,736 Decker June '14, 1938 CHARLES SCHERMULY. 

